Cowboys football manager Peter Parr said the club had lost one of its most popular players.

"Alex could be cheeky but he was talented, very popular and a good young man,'' said Parr.

"That's how I and many other will remember him.''

Henry said the Logan Brothers junior had come to the Cowboys' attention when he watched a schoolboys game at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

"Alex was playing in the centres and he stood right out,'' said Henry.

"We didn't really have him on our radar but we certainly did after that game.''

Elisala's toughness helped him work his way into the forwards and eventually he settled on playing hooker, where he was earmarked for an NRL future.

"He was certainly a player with a lot of promise on our books,'' said Henry.

"He had a bit of rogue about him, but he was a very likeable young guy.

"He was a good trainer and a good boy to have around.''

Henry said the players would have all the support they needed from the club and the community.

"But the competition doesn't stop and we've got a game of footy (against Parramatta on Saturday) so we have to regroup and re-focus, which is going to be difficult for different players to handle,'' he said.

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